There will be a Max-Q version of the GTX 1050 and 1050 Ti for laptops

The Max-Q versions of NVIDIA graphics cards for laptops are versions that prioritize low consumption and cooling in order to be used in thin laptops, although there is a clear loss in performance. For example, in the case of the GTX 1080 Max-Q, its performance was similar to that of a conventional GTX 1070 found in laptops, as we could corroborate curing our ASUS ROG Zephirus review.

NVIDIA created Max-Q versions of the GTX 1080, GTX 1070 and GTX 1060, and it seems that the brand soon plans to launch two more modest models with the Max-Q design for the GTX 1050 and the GTX 1050 Ti, as we can see in the brand’s Linux driver changelog.

Its TDP is expected to be around 34-46 W and the performance loss to be around 15%. This graphics card’s launch could be a strategy in order to compete with the processors with integrated AMD Vega M graphics. However, the AMD solution’s great advantage is that we do not need an additional chip and its memory, which is the case of the GTX cards. We would have to see if there is room on the market for a dedicated graphics card with a performance similar to the MX150’s and the conventional GTX 1050’s. Still, if the information is true, the GTX 1050 Max-Q’s performance will be lower than that of the less powerful Vega M GL integrated into the Intel Kaby Lake-G processors, meaning that the GTX 1050 Max-Q would, theoretically, not have any advantage because it is bigger and less powerful.

The Lenovo Yoga 720S One is one of the devices that will use a 1050 Ti Max-Q, as it is a laptop that currently uses the MX150, so it would gain performance with this card.